Interactive Story: The Wicked Among Us [Part One]
Choose Your Own Misadventure
The drive up to Loch Kaille seemed to take forever. Long, lonely roads skirted by endless thickets of heather and thistle.
Eventually, we pulled into a gravel car park below a cluster of daunting Scottish hills. One of the hills was much larger than the others; a Monarch looming over its courtiers.
Four people were already present in the car park, they were standing around a pile of camping gear. Aaron and Max I already knew, and I would soon learn that the other two were Mona and Coll. We parked up and I stepped out of the car. Aaron rushed over excitedly from the group.
Aaron: “Kate! We were starting to think you'd got lost.”
Me: “Nope, just fashionably late.”
As Aaron pulled me into a hug, Leon stepped out of my car.
Leon: “How does it feel to reach twenty-five, old man?”
Aaron: “Hey, I've still got until midnight!”
Leon: “Plenty of time for chaos before then.”
Aaron: “Exactly!”
Aaron turned back to Max, Mona and Coll.
Aaron: “Guys, get over here!”
The others donned their rucksacks and gear, ready to do as the birthday boy had instructed. I noticed Coll struggling to lift a second rucksack.
Aaron: “I'll get that, Coll!”
As Aaron jogged over to grab his stuff, Leon came to my side with our own gear.
Leon: “Is that him?”
Leon was looking at Max; he was approaching us with the rest of the group.
Me: “Yeah, the tall guy on the left.”
Leon: “Just let me know if he steps out of line.”
We all converged and Aaron addressed everyone at once.
Aaron: “Guys, I just want to say thank you so much for coming. I know most of you don't know each other, and some of you have come a long way, but for this trip I wanted to be with all my best friends.”
Max: “I only came to see what kind of backwards hole spat you out, Aaron.”
Mona and Coll both gave Max a dark look. However, Aaron laughed.
Aaron: “I think you'll learn to love this place, Max. I grew up around here with Mona and Coll. We had some great camping trips back in the day.”
Me: “Up at Loch Kaille?”
Aaron: “Especially at Loch Kaille. It's a bit of a trek to get up there, but the scenery, the water. Guys, you're gonna love it.”
Leon: “As long as there's beer I'm happy anywhere.”
Aaron: “That's the spirit, Leon. Now, we're burning daylight so let's get moving.”
And with that Aaron led us out of the car park, towards the hills and then deep into the ancient forest growing over them.
Welcome Reader, to The Wicked Among Us. This tale of murder, suspicion and folk-horror will unfold across Four Parts. Additionally, our story will include various reader polls. If you choose to vote, please select your answers carefully. Poll results may affect the characters in unexpected ways.
Half an hour later we were walking along a forest trail in three distinct clusters. Aaron and Max were out in front, Mona and Coll were in the middle, and Leon and I were bringing up the rear.
I remember I stopped to take a photo of some woodland mushrooms with my instant camera. I shook and then examined the print.
Me: “Cute.”
Leon was fiddling with his phone beside me.
Leon: “Well you won't be showing off your pictures online. I had a sliver of signal in the car but this is a dead zone.”
Me: “Missing your RoMatched profile already, Leon?”
Leon: “I was trying to get a weather update. The satellite picture looked pretty dodgy earlier.”
Me: “We're not supposed to be worrying about the forecast. Aaron wanted us to enjoy the scenery. For us all to bond.”
Leon pointed to the two clusters of people ahead of us.
Leon: “We won't be doing much bonding if we all stick to our little cliques.”
Me: “Good point.”
I broke into a brisk walk and headed towards Mona and Coll.
Me: “Hey, Mona, Coll.”
Mona: “Hey. Kate, right?”
Me: “Yep. Thought I'd come and say hi. I've never met any of Aaron's friends from home before.”
Mona: “We don't get down south much. Aaron was always the high-flyer, destined for Canary Wharf. Same as you I suppose.”
Me: “Oh, I only went to university with Aaron.”
I pointed at Max, further along the trail.
Me: “That's the other banker up front.”
Coll: “I can think of a similar, better word to describe him.”
All three of us laughed.
Mona: “So what do you do?”
Me: “I'm an arts journalist. Just been promoted to Assistant Features Editor, actually.”
Mona: “Congrats.”
Me: “Thanks. What about you guys?”
Mona: “We both work at our local supermarket.”
Me: “Oh. Well that's good too.”
A moment later Aaron shouted from beyond a bend in the trail, saving me from my awkwardness.
Aaron: “Guys, check it out!”
Around the trail bend I saw that Aaron had led us to the bank of a river, the water clear and fast-flowing. Large rocks sliced through the surface forming small cascades of white water.
Me: “Have we come the wrong way?”
Aaron laughed.
Aaron: “No, this is the river crossing. It's the only way up to the loch.”
Max: “Isn't there a bridge or something?”
Aaron put a hand on Max's shoulder.
Aaron: “This is the wilderness, bud. It doesn't really do bridges.”
Aaron pulled his hand away and spoke up.
Aaron: “Guys, the water may look menacing, but it's really shallow. Mona, Coll and I have crossed it loads of times, right guys?”
Mona: “Yeah, and you only ever went arse over tit once, Aaron.”
We all chuckled, relieving some of the apprehension.
Aaron: “I think we'll mix it up a bit. I'll take Kate and Leon over first. Max, you cross with Mona and Coll once we've made it to the other side.”
We regrouped and then Aaron led me and Leon out into the shallowest part of the river. The water didn't come past our ankles but we still had to shout to be heard over the rush.
Me: “The stones are so slippery!”
Aaron: “Just make sure you have a good purchase before you transfer your weight!”
Leon: “What does that even—”
Me: “Aghh!”
I'd jammed my foot between two rocks and I was flapping my arms in an attempt to keep my balance. Luckily, Aaron was there in an instant. He grabbed one of my arms and steadied me, allowing me to free my foot.
Aaron: “Okay?”
Me: “Yeah. Got my foot stuck. Wasn't concentrating, sorry.”
Aaron: “Not a problem. Okay to go on?”
I nodded and then we continued across the river.
We made it to the other side without further incident, out of the water and onto a pebbly shore. I sat down on a smooth boulder in order to catch my breath.
Me: “Thanks, Aaron. For a moment I thought I was going in.”
Aaron: “Don't worry, you're always safe with me.”
Mona called out from the other side of the river.
Mona: “Everything okay?”
Aaron: “Everything's fine! You can cross now!”
Mona began to lead the rest of the group across as Aaron watched on.
Leon: “Kate, what are those?”
Leon was pointing to my side. On the edge of my boulder there was a neat pile of pebbles. I picked one up and inspected it. The pebble had a smooth, warped hole in its centre.
Me: “It's got a weird hole in it.”
Leon: “So do all the others.”
Looking back at the pile I saw that Leon was right.
Leon: “Aaron, look at this.”
Aaron turned from watching the rest of the group cross the river and looked at what I was holding.
Aaron: “Let me see.”
I tossed him the pebble. Aaron snatched it from the air and examined it.
Aaron: “Ah, you've found yourself a Hag Stone.”
Me: “Why is there a hole in it?”
Aaron: “The river did it. The current gradually wears away at the centre and forms the hole.”
Aaron held the Hag Stone up to his eye and looked from me to Leon through the hole.
Aaron: “Witches used to believe that looking through a Hag Stone let you see hidden truths, even peer into other worlds.”
Leon: “Really? Witches?”
Aaron lowered the Hag Stone.
Aaron: “I'm serious. Hundreds of years ago these hills were known as a refuge for witches. Loch Kaille is even named for them. Coll's dad told me that the word Kaille comes from cailleach – Gaelic for witch.”
Me: “There are more Hag Stones here. Look, a pile of them.”
Leon: “You gonna tell us a witch put them there, Aaron?”
Aaron: “Of course not, it's just dumb folklore. People around here used to believe that cheese was magic too.”
Aaron tossed the Hag Stone back to me.
Me: “But how did the Stones get here? This boulder is way above the water level.”
Aaron: “The river isn't always this low. It rises and falls. It probably dropped them there the last time it flooded. Or some hikers came through and collected them.”
I wasn't convinced and Aaron seemed to sense it. Smiling, he stepped forwards and reached out a hand. I took it and he pulled me upright.
Aaron: “That foot taking your weight okay?”
I nodded as the rest of the group arrived on the shore. Mona gave me and Aaron a charged look.
Mona: “Are we good to carry on?”
Aaron dropped my hand and bounded up the shore.
Aaron: “Yep! Only a ruthless hill climb separating us from the campsite now.”
The others let him pass and then trailed after him.
Leon: “Come on, Kate.”
Leon followed on as I looked thoughtfully at the Hag Stone, wondering what I should do with it.
Finally, I slipped it into my pocket and trudged after Leon.
The hill climb was a slog. Trust Aaron to drag us up the tallest hill for miles around.
Just when I thought my legs were about to drop off, Aaron led us all out of the pines and into a small forest clearing. There was a circle of rocks on the ground in the centre, and four log benches surrounding them.
Aaron: “Wow! The campsite is just how I remember it. It's not overgrown, or rotten, or…”
Aaron turned to Mona and Coll.
Aaron: “Did you?”
Mona: “Coll and I came up last weekend and cleared it out. Happy birthday, Aaron.”
Aaron took Mona and Coll into a group hug.
Aaron: “Thanks, guys!”
As Aaron released them from his hug, I noticed Mona was blushing.
Mona: “More time to party, right?”
Max stepped past the group, further into the campsite.
Max: “Good on the yokals for doing the housework but I don't see any water, Aaron.”
Aaron: “The loch is just through those trees. We can be there in five minutes now we don't have to tidy up.”
Me: “Shouldn't we set up the tents first? Then we don't have to worry about rushing back before nightfall.”
Max pulled a beer from the side pocket of his rucksack and opened it.
Max: “Lady's got a point. I plan on being smashed by nightfall. No way will I be able to insert tab A into slot B.”
Aaron: “Kate and Mona will be relieved to hear that, Max.”
Max snorted out his beer, laughing.
Aaron: “Come on, guys, let's get these tents sorted.”
Within the hour I was lying on the lochshore in my bathing suit, soaking up the sunshine. Leon and Coll were sitting beside me on my picnic blanket. Leon was fiddling with a fishing rod, line and lure, and Coll was looking out across the loch.
In the water, Aaron, Max and Mona were splashing about, playing some sort of game. Aaron lifted up a screaming Mona and dunked her into the water. Mona surfaced and, laughing, splashed Aaron back.
Coll: “It's good to see Mona laughing like that.”
Me: “Were you worried Mona wasn't going to enjoy the trip, Coll?”
Coll: “No, it's just that there aren't that many eligible bachelors around here.”
Leon: “What about yourself, Coll? You're a good-looking guy.”
Coll: “Thanks but Mona isn't exactly my type.”
Leon: “Ah. Read you loud and clear my friend.”
I noticed that Leon was nearly done tackling up his fishing rod.
Me: “All set, Leon? I'm looking forward to a nice trout supper.”
Leon: “I think so. My uncle used to take me sea fishing when I was a kid, but I don't really know where the fish would be in a loch.”
Me: “Maybe try underwater?”
Leon: “Very funny.”
Coll: “There's a rocky outcrop at the other end of the shore, we used to get some good takes there. I can show you if you like?”
Leon: “That'd be awesome, thanks.”
Leon and Coll got to their feet.
Leon: “Coming, Kate?”
Me: “Maybe later. I want to soak up some rays whilst the sun's out.”
Leon: “No problem. Tell the others where we went.”
As Leon and Coll walked away I leaned my head back, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my cheeks. Until a breeze ruffled a communal pile of clothes near to where Coll had been sitting. Remembering what I had found by the river, I sat up and reached into my trouser pocket. I pulled out my Hag Stone.
Like Aaron had done at the river crossing, I raised the Stone to my eye and peered through the hole. First, I looked to the trio still splashing in the water. Then, I watched Leon and Coll walking along the lochshore. Next, I turned my head and looked through the Hag Stone at the trees nearest to the shore.
A tall figure wearing tattered robes and some kind of antler headdress gazed back at me from the treeline. Half a deer skull concealed the figure's face and, as I stared into dark foreboding eyes, my blood ran cold. I dropped my Hag Stone and screamed as the figure turned and disappeared into the pines.
Hearing my outcry, Leon and Coll turned back and rushed along the shore to my side.
Leon: “Kate, are you okay?”
Me: “I saw something by those trees.”
Coll: “A person?”
Me: “Yes. I think – I think they were watching me. I think they were wearing horns.”
Behind me the rest of the group were wading back through the water. Aaron was way ahead and he reached my blanket first.
Aaron: “What's wrong?”
Leon: “Some perv in fancy dress was spying on Kate from the trees.”
Aaron grabbed his clothes from the pile and started to dress.
Me: “What are you doing?”
Aaron: “I'm going to go and check it out.”
Leon: “We'll come too.”
Me: “Guys, wait.”
But Aaron, Leon and Coll were already hurrying towards the pines. As they went Aaron called back to me.
Aaron: “Stay with the others!”
From the shallows, Mona and Max finally reached my blanket.
Mona: “Did you see something, Kate?”
Me: “A person. Through my…”
I plucked my Hag Stone from where I had dropped it onto the blanket.
I needed to go after the boys.
I reached for my jeans and pulled them on over my swimsuit.
Mona: “Didn't Aaron say to stay here?”
I pulled on my shirt and slipped on my trainers.
Mona: “I really think you should stay with us, Kate.”
I started running.
I was through the treeline and into the forest in seconds. It was darker beneath the canopy, and it took a few moments for my eyes to adjust.
Me: “Guys?”
I couldn't see them, but their path through the pine needles was obvious. As I followed their trail I heard voices shouting up ahead.
I stepped out of the trees and into a large clearing to find Aaron, Leon and Coll quiet and stationary. They were staring at a cavemouth; a dark opening in a rocky forest rise.
Me: “What's going on?”
Aaron: “We found a cave. The person you saw might be inside.”
Me: “You're not going in there?”
In response, Aaron marched forwards. Leon and Coll were right behind him.
Once Aaron reached the cavemouth, he paused.
Aaron: “Hello?”
No reply so, without another word, he ducked inside. Leon and Coll followed. Even though a loud voice in my head was warning me not to, I decided to enter as well.
Inside, a low tunnel led us to an open space, a kind of chamber. Holes in the cave roof let in shafts of light and we were all able to stand straight. In one corner of the chamber there was an empty stove and piles of dirty blankets. Crow, pheasant, and songbird feathers adorned simple wooden furniture. There were hanging rabbit and rodent skins, dried herbs, jars of viscous liquids, but no person.
Aaron: “Wow.”
We each began to investigate the chamber. I found a crooked shelf stacked with animal shells and fossilised spirals.
Coll: “How have we never found this place before? I thought we explored every inch of this forest when we were kids.”
Aaron: “Might be new. A fisherman's retreat. I bet all these feathers are for fly tying.”
Me: “What about the dead animals?”
Aaron: “Fly fishermen use all sorts of weird stuff to make their flies.”
Aaron picked up an eerie feather doll from a table. It was a human-like figure made from feathers, dirty string, nails and a pinecone. He held it up for us all to see.
Aaron: “Look at this, guys.”
Leon: “I think we should leave.”
Aaron: “I didn't scare you with all that witch talk earlier did I, bud?”
Leon didn't reply which was all the answer Aaron required.
Aaron: “Okay, let's go. It looks like whoever Kate saw is long gone anyway.”
I noticed Aaron pocket the feather doll as he spoke.
Me: “You're not taking that, are you?”
Aaron: “A souvenir. To remember the trip by.”
Aaron strode back towards the tunnel before I had a chance to protest further.
Keen to be anywhere else, we all followed Aaron out of the cave.
After leaving the cave we spent another couple of hours at the lochshore. I tried to enjoy myself but I was still so shaken by the cave and the Antler Figure.
As the sun finally dipped towards the horizon we all headed back to the campsite. I spent some time making the inside of my tent just so, and then I changed into some warm clothes. I unzipped my tent flap and stepped outside. Four more tents encircled the log benches, and the benches themselves surrounded a crackling campfire. I rubbed my cold hands together and made for an empty bench on the opposite side of the fire to where Max was sitting.
As I sat, Max took a swig of his beer and gave me a creepy smile over the flames. Thankfully, Leon soon came over from where he, Mona and Coll had been bunched around a little camping stove.
Leon: “Kate! We made sausage and beans!”
Leon handed me one of the mess tins he was carrying and then sat down next to me.
Me: “This actually looks half-edible.”
Leon: “I know! Mona and Coll really know what they're doing.”
As we ate Aaron emerged from his tent at the head of the campsite. He was carrying a small action camera and he sat on a free bench near to the fire.
Aaron: “Guys, I've had a great idea. I'm going to record all of tonight on this little baby.”
Max: “You really want your drunken birthday party documented for all to see?”
Aaron: “I'll delete it before we head back to the real world, but it'll be hilarious to look back on tomorrow.”
Mona and Coll joined Aaron on his bench. Mona was carrying a speaker and Coll had a bottle of vodka.
Mona: “As long as my terrible dancing doesn't end up on KonneKt, I'm game.”
Me: “I think we're safe. Leon has been pining over his lack of Wi-Fi all day.”
Leon's mouth was full of food but he still managed to give me a scowl.
Aaron: “Perfect. I'll set it up and then we can see out the night in style.”
True to his word, Aaron set the little camera up on a low branch at the edge of the clearing. Then we opened the vodka. I'd hoped the alcohol would help me forget everything that had happened in the afternoon, and it did.
The night passed in a blur of drinking, laughing and dancing. I had a pillow fight with Mona whilst we sat on Leon and Coll's shoulders. At midnight we opened a bottle of champagne and I took a group photo with my camera. The party continued until the early hours when there was a flash of lightning and the heavens opened.
Aaron rushed off to retrieve his action camera and the rest of us darted into our tents to escape the downpour. I collapsed into my sleeping bag and fell asleep instantly.
Hours later I awoke to a hysterical scream.
I crawled out of my tent and squinted as sunlight stung my eyes. Mona was kneeling on the wet ground outside Aaron's tent, crying. I rushed to her side.
Me: “Mona, what's wrong?”
Mona: “Aaron, he's – I think he's dead.”
Max appeared from inside his tent.
Max: “What are you talking about? Aaron, get out here!”
Now Leon and Coll arrived. Coll knelt beside Mona and she collapsed into his arms, sobbing.
Max: “Aaron?”
When Aaron still didn't answer I exchanged a troubled look with Leon.
Leon: “Kate, wait.”
But I was already heading into Aaron's tent through the loose tent flap.
Inside, Aaron lay face up in his sleeping bag. His skin was pale and he didn't appear to be breathing. I gently shook his shoulder.
Me: “Aaron, wake up. Aaron”
No response so I put a finger to his neck. No pulse.
I turned to where the group were all stooped and peering in through the tent flap. I shook my head and they turned away, distraught. Then I crawled out of Aaron's tent and stood straight.
Leon: “How did this happen?”
Me: “He must have died in his sleep somehow.”
Max: “Aaron was super-fit. He can't have just died in his sleep you dumb bitch.”
Leon: “Hey, watch your mouth.”
I put a hand to Leon's side.
Me: “It's okay.”
Max: “You must have checked wrong, let me try.”
I stepped into Max's path, blocking his way.
Me: “No one else can go in the tent. Technically – technically it's a crime scene.”
The group fell silent, shocked by what I had just said.
Me: “Look, I'm not saying anyone's at fault, we just need to do everything right until we know exactly what's happened.”
Coll: “Maybe it was an undiagnosed heart condition. You hear about them all the time.”
Max: “Well that sounds very convenient.”
Coll: “What?”
Max: “I'm just saying it's pretty obvious that your girl prefers Aaron to you. Maybe you did something about it.”
Leon: “You have no idea what you're talking about, Max.”
Max: “Well maybe they did it together then.”
Me: “Max, you need to calm—”
Max: “Don't tell me to calm down. Twenty-five-year-old super athletes do not just die in their sleep.”
Leon: “Well what about you then? Kate told me what sort of person you are, what you did in the nightclub at Aaron's twenty-fourth.”
Max: “And what exactly was that?”
Leon: “You got blind drunk, came onto a girl who clearly wasn't interested and then started a fist fight with her boyfriend.”
Max: “That's bollocks. In fact if Kate can lie about that, she can lie about anything. Seeing a Peeping Tom by the loch, I bet that was just a lie to cover her tracks.”
Leon: “And I suppose she made up the cave we all saw as well, did she?”
Mona: “Just stop it, all of you!”
There was a heavy silence. I drew a deep breath.
Me: “We need to contact the police.”
Leon reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
Leon: “Still no signal.”
Coll: “It's the metal ore in the hills. You can't use phones here.”
Max: “Fine. I'll head back to the cars and drive out until I get a signal. I'll call the police and then bring them back up here.”
Me: “Okay. That's actually a pretty good idea.”
Max: “But none of you touch anything whilst I'm gone. If anything's different when I get back, I'll personally make sure you all rot in prison for the rest of your lives.”
Without another word, Max stormed off and vanished into the trees.
The First Part of our story draws to a close. This is a journey best undertaken with trusted kin so please consider sharing The Wicked Among Us with your friends and followers. After all, the more of us there are here the better decisions we make…
[Part Two] — Follow the link to read Part Two.
Interactive story. Great idea
Also here from Reddit. LOVE this idea.